Bristol's biggest homeless shelter opens in hope of offering reprieve for those in need at Christmas

ITV News' Robert Murphy spoke to volunteers and organisers from Caring in Bristol

A team of 400 volunteers is running the West Country's biggest Christmas homeless project which has once again opened its doors to those in need over the festive period.

The Trinity Centre has been taken over by Caring in Bristol to cater for 700 homeless men and women in the city over the next seven days.

The centre will feature a Christmas lunch overseen by Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton, as well as a 'personal shopping experience' and a cinema.

Caring in Bristol's Alv Hirst, said: "To experience homelessness is a real personal disaster. This time of year is cold.

"There are people shopping and doing all the things that we do at Christmas and people just feel that they don't belong anymore. And we really want to create that situation where people can feel that they belong."

Caring in Bristol says the cost of living crisis, high interest rates and high property prices in Bristol have all fuelled a rise in homeless numbers in the city.

"It's a very, very difficult landscape out there," said Mijanou Blech, CEO of Caring in Bristol.

"There are many, many people that are finding themselves without a safe home at the moment. Anybody can experience homelessness and we're here to kind of support anybody that does."

The centre offers food and shelter from 10am-4pm, as well as a cinema and the chance to speak with people.

This year has also seen the addition of a 'personal shopping experience' innovation which allows people to get new clothes.

Abby Carter, a volunteer at the service, said: :They can get a new jacket, get some trousers, get a belt, they might need a new rucksack, whatever they're after, really, to keep them clothed.

"It is going to get chilly as the Winter goes on."

Other services available at the space include massage, music entertainment, art and repairs.

But a lot of the project is based around food, starting with breakfast baps followed by lunch and snacks.

Christmas Day's lunch will be overseen by The Pony Chew Valley's Josh Eggleton.

The project is also taking food to people in the outskirts of the city who are unable to get to Central Bristol.